Dreamworld Book Reviews

13 1/2 is a standalone novel by Nevada Barr, who writes the Anna Pigeon mystery series. It is also part of the Crossroad Press Ladies of Horror series, which encompasses horror, dark fantasy, and thriller books by women.

In 1971, a young boy murders his family, similar to how the guy does it in The Amityville Horror. The crime earns him the nickname, “Butcher Boy.” When he’s sent to prison, Butcher Boy receives terrible drug treatments from doctors who want him to remember the gristly details of that horrific night he has allegedly forgotten.

In another timeline, in present day New Orleans, a single mom named Polly is raising children of her own, despite being haunted by a troubling, traumatic childhood. When she meets and falls in love with an architect named Marshall, strange and scary things start happening, and the lives of Polly and her kids are threatened. Is Marshall a good guy or a bad guy? Will Polly learn the truth before it’s too late?

13 1/2 is well crafted and put together, and it’ll keep you guessing until the end. There’s nothing that really sticks out about it—it’s just a fun thriller. I would I could say more, but there you have it.

I like how this book is sprinkled with cryptic journal entries about true crime killing sprees. Mysterious indeed, and a decent read—especially if you’re already a fan of Nevada Barr.

There are 19 books in the Anna Pigeon series, which begins with Track of the Cat. Other books by Nevada Barr include:

• Bittersweet (1984)
• Naked Came the Phoenix (2001)
• What Rose Forgot (2019)

What did you think about this book?

• ShareCopied to clipboard
• X
• Threads
• Facebook

Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by Sarah Ann

Affiliate Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this content. This means I earn a small commission if you buy anything from those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.